Michaela Coel, the celebrated creator behind the Emmy and BAFTA-winning series “I May Destroy You,” is set to write and direct a remake of the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts classic “Bloodsport” for indie powerhouse A24.
The original “Bloodsport,” directed by Newt Arnold, followed a U.S. Army captain and ninjutsu practitioner who enters an underground full-contact martial arts tournament in Hong Kong. It became a launching pad for Van Damme, establishing him as a bankable leading man known for his physical prowess. According to sources, the film earned $11.8 million at the box office and spawned three sequels, none of which featured Van Damme.
For Coel, this is clearly a passion-driven undertaking. “I have long been in awe of athletes, and astounded by the discipline, intensity and isolation the sport demands of them,” she said in a statement. “I am excited to explore this world, especially so with A24 as my collaborators. LET’S F**KING GO.”
Plot details for her reimagining have not been revealed, leaving it unclear how closely her version will follow the original. What is certain is that she brings a sharply personal creative voice to the material, shaped by her work in the British sitcom “Chewing Gum,” her appearances in “Black Mirror” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and her approach to storytelling throughout “I May Destroy You.”
The project marks her third collaboration with A24, alongside the in-production miniseries “First Day on Earth,” which she wrote, executive produced, co-directed and stars in, and the upcoming psycho-thriller “Mother Mary,” starring Anne Hathaway and Hunter Schafer, scheduled for theatrical release on April 17.
A24 will finance and distribute the film. Marc Toberoff, whom Vanity Fair once described as “Elon Musk’s Hollywood-loving lawyer,” will produce alongside Alberto Lensi. Stuart Manashil and Peggy DiSalle will serve as executive producers.
Toberoff spoke to the enduring draw of the original. “In 1988, the now-iconic ‘Bloodsport’ introduced audiences to the gritty aesthetic of mixed martial arts,” he said. “I look forward to bringing back that high-energy tournament format to the big screen again.”
The source material, however, carries its share of complications. Co-writer Sheldon Lettich has claimed that martial artist Frank Dux, whose stories inspired the film, fabricated many of the tales on which it was based.
Van Damme himself told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019 that he personally oversaw a final cut of the movie, as the original version was unwatchable. A remake was discussed as far back as 2011, though nothing materialized.
